Faro's Daughter (Regency Romances)

Yes Ms. Heyer is an excellent Regency writer, however that doesn't imply that each of her plots are credible. She has a tendency to have heroines whose behavior some might find lively or witty but I often find annoying and inconsiderate (sometimes even a bit unhinged) . An unmarried female working in a gambling establishment wouldn't just be bad ton but would be a non entity that even the downtrodden would shun. The behavior of many of the females in this book bordered on fantasy. Their lives were held in the balance because of debts that were barely regarded by either debtor. Indeed, they were badly dipped but then proceeded to shop on behalf of a stranger they took into their midst to buy dresses and gambled hundreds of pounds. My incredulity has not even touched upon the major plot device of a kidnapping. Not that kidnappings are rare among Regency novels, but they are usually undertaken by a crazed man... not a young woman holding one's prey hostage in a crowded residence. So unbelievable was this story i couldn't possibly rate it highly. This story would be better placed as science fiction or fantasy for the number of "passes" it must be given for exceeding the bounds of reality.

I have been enjoying the experience of 're-reading' Georgette Heyer's books through the audio book format. It's been several years since I read them the first time so it has been fun to revisit them.

With some of the stories, I felt about the same as I did when I read them the first time. However, when it came to this one- which I found delightful the first go around, I actually found the heroine extremely annoying.

Max Ravenscar is called on by his aunt, Lady Maplethorpe, to rescue her son from the hands of a conniving woman in a gaming house. His cousin, Adrian, a young man barely out of school believes himself in love. Max goes around to the house to check out Adrian's love interest and is a little surprised at the woman who is genteel and well dressed though she works amongst gamblers and has some of the worst of the upperclass hanging about her. Max is determined that he will get Adrian away from her, but decides to offer a bribe.

Deb Grantham came of a good family, but her late father was a gambler and her Aunt Lizzy with whom she has lived since her father died, has turned her card parties into a gaming business. Her aunt has expensive taste so has not made any money. In fact, she is badly in debt and to a man who would use this to force Deb into becoming his mistress. Her aunt would like Deb to take advantage of young Lord Maplethorpe's puppy love to get them out of financial trouble, but Deb will not. She suspects the sudden appearance of Adrian's cousin is to get Adrian away from her. She finds it amusing until Max Ravenscar insults her with the offer of a bribe and makes it clear the distaste he has for his young cousin Maplethorpe being entangled with the likes of her. She loses her temper and decides to make Ravenscar pay for such an insult by pretending to want Adrian.

And so begins a game of cat and mouse in which the two fiery people battle it out to best the other with schemes and wit. With so much hate and anger, others suspect that there might be something deeper going on and they would be right.

So, this one is classic enemies to lovers trope. There is an element of madcap comedy to it that is true of many of the author's works. Just as there is a dominant, powerful male and a fiery-tempered female as protagonists. I don't mind all that and enjoyed it.

but this time around, I was struck by the heroine- who is supposedly a sensible woman- acting rather petulant, flaky, and even hurtful. She gets mad that he thinks her the type of woman who would prey on a young impressionable man, but, in essence, by not setting Adrian, Lord Maplethorpe to rights immediately, that is exactly what she is. She even admitted as much that she was wrong for him because of her occupation so it was outrageous that she reacted so badly to his assumptions. Then, I really didn't like that she chose to use poor Adrian to get back at his cousin.
Then she proceeds to spend the rest of the story in a storm of distemper and rage even going so far as to have the man kidnapped and then getting angry because her helpers had to get rough to capture him. Exactly how did she imagine kidnapping would work with a healthy athletic man who would resist such a procedure? And the list goes on. Honestly, I couldn't see much to like.

I will be fair and say that she was just strong-willed enough to be a match for the arrogant Ravenscar who is set in his ways and used to having things his own way. He had never been challenged or bested so it was a good thing for him.

Secondary characters and plot lines were all delightful. I loved the earnest Adrian who grew and matured, the irrepressible Arabella, the roguish Lucian, and the fluttering older ladies. Even the cunning Olmskirk was amusing in his own way.

So this go around, I wasn't nearly as impressed with the heroine. But this was still an overall entertaining listen. The narrator, Laura Paton, caught the spirit of the piece and did a good job if not with the depth of the voices at least with the emotion, pace, and tone of the story.

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

Faro’s Daughter is a delightful romp illustrating what happens when two headstrong people, used to getting their way, end up on opposite sides. Georgette Heyer may, in fact, be at the root of my love for well-written “misunderstanding” romances. The story begins with Mr. Ravenscar and his aunt making an assumption based on Deborah’s circumstances as to her character, and devolves from there.

Could Deborah have pulled him aside and gently explained the true circumstance in the face of his slander? Sure. But why should she have to bow to his arrogance when he never once entertained the possibility that he might have misunderstood the situation?

That arrogance is certainly not one-sided either, nor do the lengths to which either of them goes make much sense to outsiders. But within an escalating war of wills, anything is game, while there are others happy to manipulate the circumstances for their own interests as well. The nature of Deborah and Mr. Ravenscar’s responses build a much different picture of how they perceive each other as the story progresses, allowing the reader to see the change in circumstances in a lovely fashion before the characters themselves have recognized the source of their extravagance.

As you might have guessed, I enjoyed this story as much as I may have many years before, though it’s possible I had not read this particular title as of yet. However, I promised some observations about the style, so here they are:

Heyer has a particular way of writing with many exclamation points and an exaggerated nature in both the narrative and the dialogue that is very different than today’s standards. It is as though the characters and everything that happens to them is larger than life even when simply sharing a game of cards. Of course, to these two, there is nothing simple about a card game either.

Part of what I enjoyed was the inclusion of the historical circumstances. Families were constantly faced with life-altering decisions such as desperate attempts to save the family fortune through good marriages, and yes, through running a gambling establishment. The quality of the company and the good food could let the proprietors pretend a moral standard but ultimately little separated them from the gaming hells.

It’s not just the difference in their circumstances that set Deborah and Mr. Ravenscar apart but also the difference in reputation. Mr. Ravenscar is not the only one to believe Deborah to have a price that has little to do with her virtue or reputation despite the quality of her bloodline.

One other aspect that deserves mention when current views of the past have blinders is the presence of a black pageboy. It’s only a passing reference, but when you compare that to so many claiming there were only white-skinned persons in London during the Regency, it’s worth mentioning. Apparently, this whitewashing of the past is a more recent event as Heyer (this novel was first published in 1941) saw nothing of note in the inclusion of non-white staff, much like how the skin tones in Regency Era artworks show a variety in all levels of society.

I picked this up after reading Mari Ness's review, and am quite glad I did. It's a slim book (~280 pages) which doesn't flag for a minute. The plot: Deb, who works in a gambling house, is the object of the naive Lord Mablethorpe's affections. His cousin Ravenscar tries to bribe her not to marry him. Deb never intended to do so, but outraged by Ravenscar's assumptions, she decides to pretend she will as revenge. Deb and Ravenscar's battle escalates to blackmail and kidnapping as the two prideful and combative antagonists gradually come to respect one another. I really liked both protagonists, though Deb is a little flighty for my taste, with her wild threats of boiling people in oil and her lack of an actual plan to restore the family finances, though she definitely knows what cannot be honorably done to restore them. But the way she both overawes and takes care of the younger characters, rescuing a young girl from a forced marriage, shows that she has some real substance. Of course, being a romance heroine, she can't actually like her work in a casino, but this actually makes her look better compared to her overspending brother, who looks down on the casino while spending its money. She frequently quotes Beatrice ("Oh would that I were a man") as she wishes to fight Ravenscar, thus backing up my (unoriginal) theory that the romance genre is descended for Much Ado About Nothing. The main pair make stupid decisions as they become increasingly caught up in their contest, in a very recognizable way. They ultimately prove a match for each other in both cunning and honor, with Deb actually gaining the final victory, though Ravenscar shows enough magnanimity to be a worthy opponent. Ravenscar himself is a jerk, but a principled jerk who doesn't much care what others think of him, and he does his best to protect his cousin and sister without spying on them or curbing their freedom. His cool, sarcastic defiance when Deb kidnaps him hits my narrative sweet spot. The side characters are all entertaining, from Ravenscar's playful and flirtatious sister to young Mablethorpe to Deb's older friend, the unsavory but loving Lucius Kennet. I was slightly disturbed by the ending of Kennet's thread- Deb is once again mad at him for overstepping the bounds of honor after she basically gave him a blank check to get revenge, and we don't see an interaction between them on the subject as the book ends a few pages after Deb learns what he's done. I hope they stay friends as while he's a slippery character, he clearly cares for Deb and his misdeeds are mainly in the service of her feud. As well, I was somewhat uneasy with the way Deb leads Mablethorpe on just to get revenge on his cousin, though she makes sure it turns out for the best for him and he's amused and relieved when he finds out what she did. It's nice to see such vividly defined and unconventional women. Ravenscar's sister flirts recklessly with multiple men and is not ruined. Though she needs some guidance from her brother, she retains a sense of fun even as she becomes more mature and proper. Deb gets to rescue the book's damsel-in-distress, and while said damsel falls in love with the man who helped rescue her, the readers know who was really responsible for her salvation. And the main romantic pair combine a fierce competitive urge with an appealing magnanimity. Highly recommended.I picked this up after reading Mari Ness's review, and am quite glad I did. It's a slim book (~280 pages) which doesn't flag for a minute. The plot: Deb, who works in a gambling house, is the object of the naive Lord Mablethorpe's affections. His cousin Ravenscar tries to bribe her not to marry him. Deb never intended to do so, but outraged by Ravenscar's assumptions, she decides to pretend she will as revenge. Deb and Ravenscar's battle escalates to blackmail and kidnapping as the two prideful and combative antagonists gradually come to respect one another. I really liked both protagonists, though Deb is a little flighty for my taste, with her wild threats of boiling people in oil and her lack of an actual plan to restore the family finances, though she definitely knows what cannot be honorably done to restore them. But the way she both overawes and takes care of the younger characters, rescuing a young girl from a forced marriage, shows that she has some real substance. Of course, being a romance heroine, she can't actually like her work in a casino, but this actually makes her look better compared to her overspending brother, who looks down on the casino while spending its money. She frequently quotes Beatrice ("Oh would that I were a man") as she wishes to fight Ravenscar, thus backing up my (unoriginal) theory that the romance genre is descended for Much Ado About Nothing. The main pair make stupid decisions as they become increasingly caught up in their contest, in a very recognizable way. They ultimately prove a match for each other in both cunning and honor, with Deb actually gaining the final victory, though Ravenscar shows enough magnanimity to be a worthy opponent. Ravenscar himself is a jerk, but a principled jerk who doesn't much care what others think of him, and he does his best to protect his cousin and sister without spying on them or curbing their freedom. His cool, sarcastic defiance when Deb kidnaps him hits my narrative sweet spot. The side characters are all entertaining, from Ravenscar's playful and flirtatious sister to young Mablethorpe to Deb's older friend, the unsavory but loving Lucius Kennet. I was slightly disturbed by the ending of Kennet's thread- Deb is once again mad at him for overstepping the bounds of honor after she basically gave him a blank check to get revenge, and we don't see an interaction between them on the subject as the book ends a few pages after Deb learns what he's done. I hope they stay friends as while he's a slippery character, he clearly cares for Deb and his misdeeds are mainly in the service of her feud. As well, I was somewhat uneasy with the way Deb leads Mablethorpe on just to get revenge on his cousin, though she makes sure it turns out for the best for him and he's amused and relieved when he finds out what she did. It's nice to see such vividly defined and unconventional women. Ravenscar's sister flirts recklessly with multiple men and is not ruined. Though she needs some guidance from her brother, she retains a sense of fun even as she becomes more mature and proper. Deb gets to rescue the book's damsel-in-distress, and while said damsel falls in love with the man who helped rescue her, the readers know who was really responsible for her salvation. And the main romantic pair combine a fierce competitive urge with an appealing magnanimity. Highly recommended.

This is one of the most antagonistic historical romances I’ve ever read, but it is very enjoyable. The hero and heroine spend more time arguing than anything else, and this reminded me a little of Darcy and Elizabeth from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Is antagonism a sign of deep sexual attraction? Hmm…
Max Ravenscar, a powerful and intelligent man, will never allow Miss Deb Grantham to marry his green and vulnerable cousin, Adrian, a rich young gentleman, even if Adrian is completely besotted with her. Deb works in her aunt’s gaming hell, an endeavor borne out of financial straits rather than by thoughtful choice. She’s crafty, intelligent, and devastatingly beautiful, and she has no intention of marrying an infatuated young boy like Adrian Mablethorpe.
So she is outraged when Ravenscar threatens her. The nerve of the man to think her so cheap and conniving as to entrap an unsophisticated peer. He tries bribing her and that’s when she snaps. She’ll teach him a lesson he’ll never forget.
Deb decides to lead Adrian on and during the course of the story, Deb and Adrian encounter a victimized young heiress fleeing from an older man her family insists she marry. This constitutes the secondary love story in the book and it’s more of a convenience than anything else.
There is humor here but it is often biting and edgy. It often teeters toward the cold and malicious but never quite gets there. Which is a good thing, otherwise we would almost miss the hidden attraction between these two intelligent, stubborn, and proud individuals.
The secondary characters are quite colorful and add some much needed lightness to this romance: Lady Mablethorpe, Adrian’s mother and Max’s aunt who is horrified at Adrian’s crush; Arabella, Max’s delightfully coquettish half sister; and Lucius Kennet, Deb’s well-meaning but vengeful friend.
Laura Paton reads with a perfect drollness that matches the moods of the characters. The voices are distinguished and I especially enjoy her reading of the high-strung and nervous Aunt Bellingham. There is appropriately read emotion and antagonism between Deb and Max but sometimes it did make me cringe in its harshness. The innocence and naivete of Miss Laxton is captured well as are the voices of the lackeys of the gaming hell.
Though scathing, the dialogue is a wonderfully large and engaging part of this battle of wits. We see both Deb and Max’s vulnerabilities and how each owns up to their mistakes and remedies them. The ending is especially lovely and makes up for all the hardship to get there.
But there is never any doubt that this is an exceptionally well written and enjoyable story, especially when listened to read aloud.
This review first appeared on Romantic Historical Reviews.

Max Ravenscar is a renowned gambler, is considered a somewhat uncaring gentleman and makes no effort to impress eligible females. However, once he learns his young cousin, Adrian, is enthralled with a young woman who works in her aunt's gaming house, Max is determined to put an end to the romance and soon meets his match. Deborah Grantham does indeed work in a gaming house but she is a few years older than Adrian, is a woman of honor and has no intention of accepting Adrian's suit.

When the haughty, Max Ravenscar comes to the gaming house with the intent of taking Deborah down relative to her "assumed" intentions, and has the gall to offer her the inducement of 20,000 pounds to give Adrian up, Deborah is affronted and decides to turn the tables on Max. I. Loved. Deborah. She enlists the aid of a friend to kidnap Max and stores him in the basement in order to make sure he can't perform in a race to which he has committed and upon which lots of money has been wagered. Things begin to go awry when Max and Deborah both begin to realize everything is not as they assumed. When Deborah's younger brother returns home and begins to involve himself with the "kidnapped" Max, further complications ensue.

Very enjoyable story.

I've read a great many romance novels, with tired predictable characters. Author Georgette Heyer did a lovely job of creating complex characters that didn't necessarily follow the formula that is so typically used in romance novels.
I fully enjoyed watching the tension unravel between Max and Deb. They were both headstrong and clever and so fitting for one another. I was glad to see an ending that appealed to my desire for love prevail. I must say I liked all the characters even the unsavory ones.
I recommend this tale for anyone who enjoys witty characters and a slow building romance that is actually conceivable, to the "OMG I saw him and he was so beautiful and loved him immedaitely without knowing or caring about who he is as a person" types that I have seen all too often.

Heyer gives us another thoroughly entertaining story. Deborah is smart, feisty, worldly, not the typical demure naive Regency heroine. She likes to manage things and, with her warm heart, solve all her friends' problems. Her besetting fault is a quick temper and pride, but this just makes the plot extremely fun and funny. The hero, Max, is athletic, intelligent, strong-willed, and very capable. All his relatives look to him whenever wisdom and quick action are needed. The rest of the characters also add to the fun. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book. If you like this one, you should also like Heyer's books The Grand Sophy or Frederica, which also feature more mature and capable heroines. Interesting lyrical, this tale is told in what seems to be third-person limited, but all the tongue-in-cheek humor really make into third-person omniscient. Well done.

"Faro's Daughter" is a Regency Romance. Deborah realizes from the start that her choice to act as a hostess in her aunt's gaming house has ruined her reputation as a respectable girl. Yet she's extremely insulted that Max tries to buy her off after his aunt tells him that Deborah is going to marry Adrian. Deborah doesn't care why there's a misunderstanding; she has no intention of marrying Adrian and everyone should be able to read her thoughts! So she decides to act exactly like the scheming hussy that Max assumed she was so that she can continue in her righteous fury.

Only Max realizes that she's playing a game. He matches his wits against hers in their game to get what they want. He gradually learns what Deborah is really like despite all her efforts at deception. Yet finally Deborah succeeds in a secret scheme that fools him into thinking he was wrong about her after all. Instead of correcting him, she plays along AGAIN. The girl is determined to cause herself as much pain as possible to sustain her prideful sense of outrage. I think I might have liked her story a little better if she didn't have my name...

The story had a number of funny incidents as the two match wits. I understood why Max liked her. But, oh, I just didn't get why Deborah--who started out sensible--was so determined to destroy herself and her aunt in her efforts to spite Max! The comedy was funny, but the romance was a little confusing to me.

The was some bad language (mostly the swearing use of "God"). There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy the comedy aspect of Heyer's novels.

Going through a Regency romance (actual literature from the period, not bodice rippers) kick and having very little to chose from there, I managed to stumble across Heyer. I am so glad I did! As much as I love Austen, the sensibility at the time was certainly different than the modern perspective, and even though I love it it can often seem stiff or slow at times. Heyer is the perfect match up of painstakingly research historical accuracy with all the lovely witty dialog of a period novel and a peppier writing style with spunky young women that are easier for a post-women's-lib reader to relate to. The characters (men and women) are strong (even when they're a bit pitiable), likeable, and interesting, make enough mistakes to be thoroughly human, and their actions are always clearly driven by their personalities and circumstances rather than a need to move the plot along. The plots often take on the feel of a fast-paced comedy of errors akin to a good Shakespearean comedy, with all the romance of the Regency period.

Now for this book, this is one of my top 10 easily. The characters are a wonderful example of just how sexy a good argument can be. The plot gets particularly madcap, but never pushes it to far. I highly recommend it! If you find you like it I'd also recommend Devil's Cub,The Grand Sophy,Sylvester: or The Wicked Uncle, and Black Sheep.

When young Lord Adrian Maplethorpe proclaims to his mother that he wishes to marry a young lady from a gaming house, she is both floored and horrified. It's obvious to her that the girl must only want him for his money and title. And so Lady Maplethorpe immediately sends for her nephew, Max Ravenscar, to talk some sense into Adrian. He too is surprised at the news and decides to take a look at this girl himself.

Max marches himself on down to St. James Square to the home-turned-gaming house of Eliza Bellingham in the hopes of meeting Ms. Deborah Grantham, Ms. Bellingham's niece and object of Adrian's affection.

However, the girl he encounters is not the girl he had imagined. Beautiful, funny, smart and not in the least the loose, vulgar thing he was expecting - she quite takes him by surprise. Their first meeting leaves him unsatisfied and eager to find out more about her. They meet up again and Max unveils his proposal to pay her off to stay away from his cousin and that is when things get good!

Deb is utterly offended and beyond rage at Max's offer and vows revenge. In a nutshell she tells him to take his money and shove it! She'd even go as far as taking Adrian up on his offer (even though shew had no intention before), even if it meant his ruin, just to spite the "most hateful, odious man I have ever met in my life". Max is flabbergasted at her rejection! What is this woman up to? She must be holding out for more money, of that he is certain. Thus begins a tug-of-war of wills between Max and Deb.

What follows is an endearing and humorous story of two people who drive each other absolutely crazy and end up falling in love.

Faro's Daughter is the first novel I have read by Georgette Heyer, the Mother of Regency romance and I can tell you with a certainty that it will not be the last! I'm not usually a romancy kind of gal, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed this novel. It was a light, funny read with memorable characters and some kidnapping thrown in for good measure.

I recommend this book to any reader, of any age that likes a nice, sweet story of the heart.

Amy says: 5/5

I have very strong feelings about Georgette Heyer's books. The writing is always impeccable. I love her style, love her masterful use of the English language. Whenever I read her books, I'm so glad I can read them in the original English so nothing is lost in translation. However, the plot is where it becomes hit or miss for me. Some books focus entirely on the rescue of irritating waifs rather than the main couple, or the heroine is really, really immature. I was annoyed the entire time I read April Lady and I couldn't really love Sprig Muslin. Luckily, Faro's Daughter is my favorite sort of Heyer: a lovely, concentrated battle of wits between a man and a woman with sparkling results. This book is laugh-out-loud funny and the hero and heroine are both incredibly magnetic. The pages flew for me, and I was sorry to see it end so soon.

Max Ravenscar, one of the richest men in London and a confirmed bachelor, is called upon to save his young cousin, Lord Mablethorpe, from the clutches of a wench from a gaming house. Lord Mablethorpe has proposed marriage to this hussy, and it's Ravenscar's job to buy off this woman and save his cousin from a disastrous marriage. Miss Deborah Grantham, said wench, is actually a well-bred young lady who, along with her aunt, has fallen on hard times and must maintain the gaming house for income. She has absolutely no intention of marrying her foolish admirer until his overbearing relative arrives and flings his offensive money in her face. Completely insulted by Ravenscar's preconceived ideas about her lifestyle and his nasty slurs on her honor, she throws all caution to the wind. Deborah declares that she will marry Lord Mablethorpe, and, playing the role of the scheming gold digger, tells Ravenscar that she plans to drain his cousin for every cent he has. Infuriated, Ravenscar is now convinced of her mercenary intentions and becomes determined to find out how much money she's really holding out for. Meanwhile, Deborah gleefully gets into her role and dresses a little tackier, acts a little wilder in public, parading herself in front of Ravenscar on the arm of the unsuspecting Mablethorpe. Thus begins an engrossing and completely amusing battle of wills between two hard-headed people, each trying to call the other's bluff while frantically ignoring the growing attraction between them.

I wish I could say more about the plot, except it's such fun that I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Suffice it to say, only Georgette Heyer could write an abduction scene with such mastery and make it believable and hilarious at the same time, while poking fun at the absurdity of the whole situation.

Writers should get a clue from Heyer when it comes to writing heroines. Deb is fiery and witty without being a harpy, and utterly charming and sweet without being a coquette. She has an unfortunate tendency to get herself into scrapes, often with the help of her two doting friends, and embroils herself into the most embarrassing situations. Yes, Deb Grantham is one beleaguered woman. Not only does she have to deal with a very silly aunt, but also an army of young people confused about love and desiring her guidance. She also is in charge of paying the bills for her aunt's gaming-house, which leads to no end of stress. Fortunately, Deb has a great sense of humor, tempered with an overly-developed sense of pride. This pride is what gets her into the most trouble. Still, she is always kind and loyal to her friends, and her good nature always wins out in the end. I absolutely loved her.

Ravenscar is a true Heyer hero: wealthy, a little hardened by life, charismatic yet intensely arrogant. He is baffled by Deborah and the mass of contradictions she presents; he is certain that she's only after his cousin's title, but as he spends time spying on her, is forced to notice her true goodness and loving disposition. He has a great sense of humor lurking behind his stern exterior, and it is so enjoyable to watch him suppress his amusement in a potentially explosive situation. I think he is a little harsher than the average Heyer hero, especially in the way he bitterly vituperates Deborah after a misunderstanding - but I believe his disappointment is so very deep that he is entitled to those words. Of course, he more than makes up for his bad behavior at the end, and I closed the book with an irrepressible smile on my face. It's hard not to love a self-assured, rigidly aloof man who becomes a big hothead over the woman of his dreams.

As many others have noted, there are only kisses in Georgette Heyer's books, but this lack of explicit scenes does not in any way detract from the wonderful chemistry between the two protagonists. I hate using the phrase "sizzling chemistry," but it fittingly describes Deborah and Ravenscar. They sizzle when they're together, and it's impossible not to enjoy every second of it.

If you've never read a Heyer, I urge you to go read this one now. Even the worst Heyer is so much better than many romances on the market these days, and this is one of her best. I have secondhand copies of her books, mostly scrounged from used book sales. Luckily for us, Sourcebooks Casablanca is reprinting many of Heyer's books with gorgeous covers. I'm planning to buy every single one, maybe even duplicates of my favorites. That's how good she is.

I have learned at this point that one cannot expect much passion from Heyer's writing - her strong suit is comedy and descriptions, not plumbing the depth of romantic feelings. However, there was plenty of passion in this book, what with all the anger and trying to best one another in the battle of wills. So I had high hopes that it would lead to a pretty satisfying romantic resolution. Alas, again their romantic feelings came seemingly from nowhere towards the very end of the book - another wasted opportunity... But the book was certainly fun to read, even though it's one of the most outlandish of Heyer's stories.

Going through a Regency romance (actual literature from the period, not bodice rippers) kick and having very little to chose from there, I managed to stumble across Heyer. I am so glad I did! As much as I love Austen, the sensibility at the time was certainly different than the modern perspective, and even though I love it it can often seem stiff or slow at times. Heyer is the perfect match up of painstakingly research historical accuracy with all the lovely witty dialog of a period novel and a peppier writing style with spunky young women that are easier for a post-women's-lib reader to relate to. The characters (men and women) are strong (even when they're a bit pitiable), likeable, and interesting, make enough mistakes to be thoroughly human, and their actions are always clearly driven by their personalities and circumstances rather than a need to move the plot along. The plots often take on the feel of a fast-paced comedy of errors akin to a good Shakespearean comedy, with all the romance of the Regency period.

Now for this book, this is one of my top 10 easily. The characters are a wonderful example of just how sexy a good argument can be. The plot gets particularly madcap, but never pushes it to far. I highly recommend it! If you find you like it I'd also recommend Devil's Cub,The Grand Sophy,Sylvester: or The Wicked Uncle, and Black Sheep.

When young Lord Adrian Maplethorpe proclaims to his mother that he wishes to marry a young lady from a gaming house, she is both floored and horrified. It's obvious to her that the girl must only want him for his money and title. And so Lady Maplethorpe immediately sends for her nephew, Max Ravenscar, to talk some sense into Adrian. He too is surprised at the news and decides to take a look at this girl himself.

Max marches himself on down to St. James Square to the home-turned-gaming house of Eliza Bellingham in the hopes of meeting Ms. Deborah Grantham, Ms. Bellingham's niece and object of Adrian's affection.

However, the girl he encounters is not the girl he had imagined. Beautiful, funny, smart and not in the least the loose, vulgar thing he was expecting - she quite takes him by surprise. Their first meeting leaves him unsatisfied and eager to find out more about her. They meet up again and Max unveils his proposal to pay her off to stay away from his cousin and that is when things get good!

Deb is utterly offended and beyond rage at Max's offer and vows revenge. In a nutshell she tells him to take his money and shove it! She'd even go as far as taking Adrian up on his offer (even though shew had no intention before), even if it meant his ruin, just to spite the "most hateful, odious man I have ever met in my life". Max is flabbergasted at her rejection! What is this woman up to? She must be holding out for more money, of that he is certain. Thus begins a tug-of-war of wills between Max and Deb.

What follows is an endearing and humorous story of two people who drive each other absolutely crazy and end up falling in love.

Faro's Daughter is the first novel I have read by Georgette Heyer, the Mother of Regency romance and I can tell you with a certainty that it will not be the last! I'm not usually a romancy kind of gal, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed this novel. It was a light, funny read with memorable characters and some kidnapping thrown in for good measure.

I recommend this book to any reader, of any age that likes a nice, sweet story of the heart.

Amy says: 5/5

I have very strong feelings about Georgette Heyer's books. The writing is always impeccable. I love her style, love her masterful use of the English language. Whenever I read her books, I'm so glad I can read them in the original English so nothing is lost in translation. However, the plot is where it becomes hit or miss for me. Some books focus entirely on the rescue of irritating waifs rather than the main couple, or the heroine is really, really immature. I was annoyed the entire time I read April Lady and I couldn't really love Sprig Muslin. Luckily, Faro's Daughter is my favorite sort of Heyer: a lovely, concentrated battle of wits between a man and a woman with sparkling results. This book is laugh-out-loud funny and the hero and heroine are both incredibly magnetic. The pages flew for me, and I was sorry to see it end so soon.

Max Ravenscar, one of the richest men in London and a confirmed bachelor, is called upon to save his young cousin, Lord Mablethorpe, from the clutches of a wench from a gaming house. Lord Mablethorpe has proposed marriage to this hussy, and it's Ravenscar's job to buy off this woman and save his cousin from a disastrous marriage. Miss Deborah Grantham, said wench, is actually a well-bred young lady who, along with her aunt, has fallen on hard times and must maintain the gaming house for income. She has absolutely no intention of marrying her foolish admirer until his overbearing relative arrives and flings his offensive money in her face. Completely insulted by Ravenscar's preconceived ideas about her lifestyle and his nasty slurs on her honor, she throws all caution to the wind. Deborah declares that she will marry Lord Mablethorpe, and, playing the role of the scheming gold digger, tells Ravenscar that she plans to drain his cousin for every cent he has. Infuriated, Ravenscar is now convinced of her mercenary intentions and becomes determined to find out how much money she's really holding out for. Meanwhile, Deborah gleefully gets into her role and dresses a little tackier, acts a little wilder in public, parading herself in front of Ravenscar on the arm of the unsuspecting Mablethorpe. Thus begins an engrossing and completely amusing battle of wills between two hard-headed people, each trying to call the other's bluff while frantically ignoring the growing attraction between them.

I wish I could say more about the plot, except it's such fun that I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Suffice it to say, only Georgette Heyer could write an abduction scene with such mastery and make it believable and hilarious at the same time, while poking fun at the absurdity of the whole situation.

Writers should get a clue from Heyer when it comes to writing heroines. Deb is fiery and witty without being a harpy, and utterly charming and sweet without being a coquette. She has an unfortunate tendency to get herself into scrapes, often with the help of her two doting friends, and embroils herself into the most embarrassing situations. Yes, Deb Grantham is one beleaguered woman. Not only does she have to deal with a very silly aunt, but also an army of young people confused about love and desiring her guidance. She also is in charge of paying the bills for her aunt's gaming-house, which leads to no end of stress. Fortunately, Deb has a great sense of humor, tempered with an overly-developed sense of pride. This pride is what gets her into the most trouble. Still, she is always kind and loyal to her friends, and her good nature always wins out in the end. I absolutely loved her.

Ravenscar is a true Heyer hero: wealthy, a little hardened by life, charismatic yet intensely arrogant. He is baffled by Deborah and the mass of contradictions she presents; he is certain that she's only after his cousin's title, but as he spends time spying on her, is forced to notice her true goodness and loving disposition. He has a great sense of humor lurking behind his stern exterior, and it is so enjoyable to watch him suppress his amusement in a potentially explosive situation. I think he is a little harsher than the average Heyer hero, especially in the way he bitterly vituperates Deborah after a misunderstanding - but I believe his disappointment is so very deep that he is entitled to those words. Of course, he more than makes up for his bad behavior at the end, and I closed the book with an irrepressible smile on my face. It's hard not to love a self-assured, rigidly aloof man who becomes a big hothead over the woman of his dreams.

As many others have noted, there are only kisses in Georgette Heyer's books, but this lack of explicit scenes does not in any way detract from the wonderful chemistry between the two protagonists. I hate using the phrase "sizzling chemistry," but it fittingly describes Deborah and Ravenscar. They sizzle when they're together, and it's impossible not to enjoy every second of it.

If you've never read a Heyer, I urge you to go read this one now. Even the worst Heyer is so much better than many romances on the market these days, and this is one of her best. I have secondhand copies of her books, mostly scrounged from used book sales. Luckily for us, Sourcebooks Casablanca is reprinting many of Heyer's books with gorgeous covers. I'm planning to buy every single one, maybe even duplicates of my favorites. That's how good she is.

I have learned at this point that one cannot expect much passion from Heyer's writing - her strong suit is comedy and descriptions, not plumbing the depth of romantic feelings. However, there was plenty of passion in this book, what with all the anger and trying to best one another in the battle of wills. So I had high hopes that it would lead to a pretty satisfying romantic resolution. Alas, again their romantic feelings came seemingly from nowhere towards the very end of the book - another wasted opportunity... But the book was certainly fun to read, even though it's one of the most outlandish of Heyer's stories.

Full of humor and great fun, this books follows the fortunes of reluctant gamester Deb Grantham and the very wealthy and eligible Max Ravenscar, who is determined to loathe her. Believing Deb has designs on his young cousin, Ravenscar vows to defeat her supposed purpose and instead, falls in love. Regency romp at its finest!

***LIGHT SPOILER AT THE END OF MY SECOND PARAGRAPH***

I wanted to share how much I enjoyed this fun book! I wish some wonderful people would turn it into a movie, for it would certainly make a great romantic regency comedy.

I found myself laughing out loud, and squealing with delight while reading this book. Our heroine, Deb Grantham, is wonderfully spirited and determined. Deb's aunt, Lady Bellingham, was constantly reaching for her smelling salts, vinaigrette, hartshorn, and having a case of the vapours nearly every time she's around our spirited Deb. The writing is sooo funny! Our hero, Max Ravenscar, is devilishly cunning and relentless. All of the secondary characters were interesting and added to the fun. There are many terrible misunderstandings, prejudices, and comedies of error! There are some hysterical one-liners. The tension was constant through the entire story, thrilling me as to "oooo, what's gonna happen next!!??" Wait til you read about Deb's plot to kidnap Max. I tell you, it is TOO funny!!!

I have read Heyer's "Sylvester" and "Devil's Cub". I enjoyed both immensely, but "Faro's Daughter" is the funniest of the three, and is funny without sacrificing any of the romantic tension. I'll be re-reading this one.

I can’t believe how Georgette Heyer keeps me on tenterhooks until the end. It is amazing to me how her plots are so inventive and keep me guessing. I am cheering for love and adventure and don’t want the book to end. Thank You Georgette. Thank you for keeping me guessing and laughing. Her books increase my vocabulary.

Deborah Grantham is a heroine delightfully reminiscent of Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet. Orphaned and left in the care of her aunt since childhood, she works in the family gambling establishment. (By the way, faro of the title is a card game that was popular in England and France during the 18th century.) Despite her family's less-than-respectable business, Deb is beautiful, smart, independent, loyal and kind.

Max Ravenscar is Deb's Mr. Darcy. Enormously wealthy, gruff, completely lacking in social graces, yet full of integrity, and perhaps even a little kindness beneath that prickly exterior. The dialogue between Deb and Max felt very authentic to the time period in which the book was set, and at the same time was absolutely delicious, fast-paced and clever.

I loved the fact that this novel reminded me so much of Pride and Prejudice. Besides time and place similarities, the writing style and dialogue between characters are pleasantly Austen-esque. There were enough differences, however, to make Faro's Daughter fresh and surprising.

Sourcebooks Casablanca has recently re-released a number of Heyer's Regency romances. (Regency romance is a sub-genre of romance set in England between the years 1795-1837.) Though it took a few chapters to get into the groove of this book's style, it was well worth it and I look forward to reading more from this prolific and talented writer.

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So funny, with delightfully drawn characters who clash and dash about romance and revenge with greatest glee. A truly rollicking plot. If you love Regency Romantic comedies, this is one of the best. I’ll not write more, for you need to make this journey yourself, with no hints as to the outcome.

"Women of your stamp should be whipped at the cart-tail!" Thus says Max Ravenscar to the woman he believes to be a scheming strumpet out to snare his young, impressionable, titled and rich nephew. This is not, however, the way to impress Deborah Grantham, who is in fact an entirely honourable young lady despite her presence in her aunt's gaming-house.
So Deborah decides to spite Ravenscar; first she rejects out of hand his offers to buy her off, then appears in public with his nephew, Adrian, dressed and behaving as precisely the vulgar harpy her believes her to be. This, of course, only serves to infuriate him even more, and he ups the stakes further.
There are some hilarious scenes in this book - the one where Deborah has Ravenscar kidnapped and imprisoned in her cellar (and then... oh, but no spoilers! <g>) is worth the price of this book all on its own.
For a sparkling and determined heroine, and a hero who, despite his stiff-necked pride, has a very well-developed sense of both honour and humour, you can't go far wrong with Heyer's Faro's Daughter.

Another delightfully fun read from Georgette Heyer!

My mother was a Jane Austen fan, but dear Jane wrote only SIX novels.
Not our marvelous Georgette! She was prolific. And Ms. Heyer's historical research into the social aspects of the Regency era shine through all her books.

In Pharo's Daughter, there is this scene. They are going to the Theatre in a box. Her ensemble. Her dress, her accessories, her whole manner are pointedly dreadful. When I read it, I cackled and a guffawed out loud for such an extended period of time that my sister finally just had me read her the scene aloud.

This is a love story of opposites attracting in the milieu of Beatrice and Benedict.

Georgette Heyers make for marvelous Summer Beach reading or something to nibble on in the Winter chill on the weekend. Pharo's Daughter is totally worth your reading.

It's very interesting and I like Lady Bellingham's character, she's a riot..laughed out loud with some of her antics. The two main antagonist are a little exasperating, at times and at times you just want to knock their heads together..but I read it through to the end and I thought the ending was too short..

Having previously read at least 9 or 10 Georgette Heyer Regency books and loving them all, I was still not prepared for the laugh out loud surprises that Faro's Daughter brought forth. I litereally laughed til tears were running down my cheeks at the antics of the combating hero and heroine. These two strong personalities were combustible both verbally and physically and upon finishing it the first time, I immediately read it again. I would love this book to be made into a movie. I can picture one of my favorite British actors (RA) as Ravenscar. There is so much witty reparte, humor, drama and romance that I put Faro's Daughter on my wish list. I don't mind borrowing from the library, but I want to own my favorites so I can grab them anytime I want to be transported. Asking someone to pick their favorite Georgette Heyer is like asking them to pick their favorite child. This one is definately a keeper.

Deborah Grantham is well born, well-bred and ever so lovely. None of this matters, however, in the game of love and matrimony in Regency London, because Ms. Grantham earns her living playing cards in one of London's finest gambling houses. And marriage with such a gaming-house wench is just not done, especially not in the echelons of the "ton." Young Lord Maplethorpe is willing to flaunt society and risk its censure to marry the beautiful Deborah for love. His unhappy mother seeks help from her stepson, the handsomest, cleverest, richest man about town, Max Ravenscar. This unrelenting bachelor meets Deborah, his new foe, across the faro table where they play for power, although they wager for money.
And proud Ms. Grantham gives Ravenscar a run for his money as she proves to be more stubborn and high principled than he in this delightful romantic farce. Georgette Heyer writes one of her best novels with "Faro's Daughter." The witty dialogue, the power plays between the intelligent Deborah, who does not want to be beholden to anyone, let alone to the arrogant Lord who is so willing to believe the worst of her, and the creative subplots and adventures showcase her talent.
This is a winner, and a must read for all Ms. Heyer's fans!
JANA

I was introduced to Georgette Heyer's Regency romances 40-some years ago when I was in highschool. They are just as inviting and enjoyable today.

Faro's Daughter pulls you in with lively dialogue and, of course, the antagonism between the two main characters, Deb and Ravenscar. Their verbal sparring kept me turning pages to see what would happen next, the (finally!) happy ending made me wish for more, a sequel of some kind.

As always, Heyer writes a complex tale weaving together several plot lines with great skill. The open hatred and playfulness between the two leads is much stronger in this book than her other stories, and I found some of the actions of the female lead to be almost too contemptible to forgive, though I still had a good time and enjoyed the clever resolution. The choice to have one of the most central scenes in the book happen off-page and be described later by a present character is a rather brilliant one, one of many times where Heyer has proven herself ahead of her time and underrated. This is maybe not the best place to start reading her collection and is instead better suited to an eager fan.

A wonderful bit of romantic Regency fluff. Ms Heyer has/had a way with words that impress upon one the tragic loss of vocabulary and manners in modern day. Very much enjoyed this and it set me on a quest to enjoy many more of her books.

While this is a very entertaining story with the hero and heroine struggling to one-up the other, I'm not certain how they came to fall in love. The hero's love is a little more plausible as he doesn't continually state that he hates her; but it's as if they just decide to cross that thin line between the two feelings. It would have been a little better had there at least been a mention of an"instant"connection.

This is a wonderful book that will make you laugh out loud. Not only is it funny and romantic, it also got characters that are unforgettable, and descriptions of end of 18th century London that are not only enthralling, but accurate- Heyer was a master of those. Mr Max Ravenscar wants to buy of Deb Grantham, who he thinks snared his young cousin. However, Deb is enraged that someone will think her so low and vulgar, and she desides to teach Mr Ravenscar a lesson by pretending the very sort of creature he thinks she is. Since both of them are extremely stubborn and strong willed, neither of them will give in, and things get more complicated when they fall in lov

(Taken from the review i've written on Shelfari)
When wealthy Max Ravenscar accuses Deborah Grantham of trapping his younger cousin and trustee into marrying her, she is enraged and vows to avenge his insults. And so begins their schemes for trapping one another into ruin. If Deborah is as stubborn as Max, how long will it take their game of cat-and-mouse to come to a stop?

While Georgette Heyer's books are always a pleasure to read, recently though, the heroine's I've been reading about were all calm and collected. Thankfully, Faro's daughter (Deborah) is quite the opposite, she's very passionate and has a quick temper, and nothing ruffles her more than Max's vulgar remarks about her. This really was an enjoyable read-witty and hilarious.

If you are looking for a fun story from Georgette Heyer, look no further. I have been a fan of hers since my teen years and now,many(many!) years later, I am still enjoying them. Faro's Daughter, which I just finished, is now one of my favorites and I don't know how it escaped my notice all these years. The characters are well written,the witty dialogue, and all the detail(fashion,settings,etc) in the story makes it so enjoyable. I really did not want this book to end! You won't be sorry if you pick up this title from one of the best authors of all time....my opinion, but I am a major fan.

This audiobook read by Laura Paton may be delightful, but as it is abridged and only 5 hours long, I caution the listener who might want to listen to the entire story rather than settling for bits of it. I always wonder why publishers feel like an abridged version is better than the one the author wrote.

Georgette Heyer's FARO'S DAUGHTER bring fans of Regency fiction a fantastic heroine whose only legacy from her parents is her skill at cards.
Deborah Grantham must earn her living following her father's profession. She enters a game where her beauty has more to offer than her cards skills as three men vie for her looses when she gambles for her future.
Fun-fun as a Heyer always is.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS and HAINTS.

The first book I ever read by Georgette Heyer, when I was probably in middle school. A delightful read, a fun romp, and a typical Heyer heroine: beautiful, strong-willed, taking care of everyone else but herself. Heyer is the standard against which I measure every other regency romance, and almost always the others fall short. The others seem to have started and ended their research with her novels, while hers seem completely authentic. I don't know how she did her research, it seems like she read actual correspondence to come up with dialogue that feels real. Even Heyer's lesser novels are better than most of what's out there.

Georgette Heyer's way of capturing the past is wonderful. Also, her wit flows along with a great sense of structure and plotting. Deb Grantham and Max Ravencar are clearly drawn characters , as well as the supporting characters. Other Heyer favorites of mine are Arabella, Venetia, Frederica, The Quiet Gentleman, and Regency Buck.

I had the pleasure of re-reading this delightful concoction in the past few days, and I was even more charmed by it than when I first read it, many years ago. I thought it was utterly superb then and I think it even better now. It's a tour-de-force of farce and dialogue and reads like a delightful play. The characters are so life-like and at the same time so entertaining, that it's just a pity that there's not a soul about who can write this kind of stuff anymore. Absolutely the best.

I really enjoyed this book. The only downside to it is the slightly odd note the heroine strikes-- she is honorable and intelligent, yet does something very silly!

Overall, a fun romp with a heroine who has a sense of honor, and a hero who makes a great mistake in his evaluation of her. Interesting because the setting and situations are very different than other Heyer books. A satisfying ending.

This isn't my favorite storyline in Georgette Heyer's Regency period romances, which is why I'm giving it four stars instead of five. However, Heyer's engaging characters and sly wit make it well worth reading.

Saying typical Georgette Heyer is an accolade that most authors will never receive. Ms. Heyer writes her Regency romances with grace, wit and humor. While this is not my favorite one of her books, it contains all the elements to make it an outstanding romance novel by any other standards. Her heroes are always attractive, strong and compelling and her heroines are spirited and lively. Always a "fun" read.

This was a fascinating and exciting story. The main characters were described wonderfully. The plot was not clear until nearly the end. Heyer's books are all excellent, but some are more exciting than others. This is one of them.